Wallbox installation tool

ABSTRACT

As described herein, a wall box installation tool may include a template body, one or more hollow pegs, a guide ring, and/or one or more template cards. The template cards may be configured to be installed on a front surface of the template body. A template card may define a plurality of holes therethrough. The guide ring may be configured to be installed within a pre-drilled hole in a wall. Each template card may be associated with a respective electrical device configuration. A subset of bores extending through the hollow pegs may be accessible via the template card when the template card is installed on the front surface of the template body. The wall box installation tool may include one or more fasteners that are configured to install a template card onto the front surface of the template body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/092,879, filed on Nov. 9, 2020; which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/927,392, filed on Jul. 13, 2020, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,833,497 issued Nov. 10, 2020; which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/887,150, filed on Feb. 2, 2018, nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,714,919 issued Jul. 14, 2020; which claims the benefitof U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/453,796, filed Feb. 2,2017, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/503,086, filed May8, 2017, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

Electrical wall boxes are well known. A typical electrical wall boxincludes a housing that is installed within a wall. An electrical wallbox is typically configured to receive at least one electrical device,such as a switch or a receptacle, for example. A typical electrical wallbox is also configured to receive a wall plate. The wall plate may beadapted to cover a yoke plate and/or escutcheon of the electricaldevices mounted within the wall box. The wall plate may be configured tobe attached to the electrical device with or without fasteners.

An electrical wall box may be configured to receive a single electricaldevice or multiple electrical devices. An electrical wall box that isconfigured to receive multiple electrical devices may be referred to asa multi-gang wall box. Different types of electrical devices, e.g.,devices of varying size, may be installed in a multi-gang wall box.Different electrical devices may have different mounting requirements,such as different fastener locations and/or sizes, for example. And,though some electrical devices may be installed in a single wall boxwith other types of electrical devices, certain electrical devices maynot be installable in the same wall box with other types of electricaldevices. Furthermore, multiple wall boxes may be installed in closeproximity to each other, e.g., directly next to each other.

A typical wall box installation tool includes a template used forlocating a wall box. Typical wall box installation tools provide for theinstallation of a single multi-gang wall box (e.g., a two- to four-gangwall box), but do not allow for the installation of non-standard wallboxes as well as locating and aligning multiple adjacent wall boxes.

SUMMARY

As described herein, a wall box installation tool may facilitate theinstallation of one or more wall boxes for mounting electrical devicesto a wall. The wall box installation tool may be configured to aide inthe marking and/or drilling of pilot holes required for installing thewall boxes. The wall box installation tool may be used to install one ormore multi-gang wall boxes that have either standard or non-standardspacing between gangs. The wall box installation tool may help withachieving the appropriate spacing between and alignment of adjacent wallboxes. The wall box installation tool may be configurable to allow forthe installation of wall boxes for electrical devices having differentsizes and/or configurations, for different numbers of electrical devices(e.g., different number of gangs), and/or for different spacings betweenelectrical devices and/or other wall boxes.

The wall box installation tool may include a template body and atemplate card. The template body may include a front surface, a guidering that extends from a rear surface of the template body, and aplurality of bores that extend through the template body from the frontsurface to the rear surface. The guide ring may be configured to beinstalled within a pre-drilled hole in a wall. The guide ring may beconfigured to position the wall box installation tool within a wall.

The template card may be associated with an electrical deviceconfiguration of the electrical devices that may be mounted to the wallbox. The template card may have a plurality of holes therethrough. Whenthe template card is installed on the front surface of the templatebody, a subset of the bores in the template body are accessible via theholes of the template card. The template card may be removed from thetemplate body and another template card may be installed on the frontsurface of the template body. The second template card may have aplurality of holes in different locations than the holes of the firsttemplate card, such that a different subset of the bores may beaccessible via the holes of the second template card. A number of theplurality of holes of the template card may be less than a number of theplurality of bores of the template body.

The second template card may be held against the front surface of thetemplate body and may be moved on the template body from a firstposition associated with a first electrical device configuration to asecond position associated with a second electrical deviceconfiguration. For example, the template card may be slid along thefront surface of the template body between the first and secondpositions. A first subset of the bores may be accessed via the pluralityof holes when the template card is in the first position. A secondsubset of the bores may be accessible via the plurality of holes whenthe template card is in the second position. The wall box installationtool may comprise two template cards that each may be slid from a firstposition to a second position. A first subset of bores may be accessiblevia the first and second template cards in the first position, and asecond subset of bores may be accessible via the first and secondtemplate cards in the second position. In addition, a third subset ofbores may be accessible via the first and second template cards whenfirst template card is in the first position and the second templatecard is in the second position.

The wall box installation tool may be used to drill one or more pilotholes associated with the configuration of electrical devices that areto be installed in one or more wall boxes. For example, the guide ringof the wall box installation tool may be inserted in a first holedrilled in a wall. The wall box installation tool may include a levelthat may be used to level the wall box installation tool when installedin the wall. The template card(s) may be adjusted to correspond tovarious electrical device and/or electrical wall box configurations. Forexample, if the wall box installation tool has two template cards, thefirst template card and the second template card may be moved intoposition based on a selected configuration of electrical devices. One ormore pilot holes may be drilled at the locations of the holes and boresassociated with the selected positioning. The wall box installation toolmay be removed from the wall and one or more second holes (e.g., 68 mmdiameter hole) may be drilled at the location of the one or more pilotholes. Remaining wall material between the first hole and the secondhole may be removed to allow for installation of one or more wall boxes.

A wall box installation tool that includes a template body, andplurality of levels is also described herein. The template body may havea guide ring and a plurality of bores that extend through the templatebody. The guide ring may extend from a rear surface of the templatebody, and may be configured to be installed within a pre-drilled hole ina wall. The plurality of levels may be positioned at oblique angles onthe template body. A first subset of the bores may be aligned with afirst level of the plurality of levels, such that the first subset ofthe bores may be horizontal when the first level is level. A secondsubset of the bores may be aligned with a second level of the pluralityof levels, such that the second subset of the bores may be horizontalwhen the second level is level

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an example wall box installation tool having template cards.

FIG. 1B is rear view of the example wall box installation tool shown inFIG. 1A.

FIGS. 1C-1E are projection views of the example wall box installationtool shown in FIG. 1A

FIG. 1F is a front view of the example wall box installation tool ofFIG. 1A showing example template card details.

FIG. 1G depicts example wall box configurations that can be installedusing the example wall box installation tool shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is an example of another wall box installation tool.

FIG. 2B is a rear view of the example wall box installation tool shownin FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is an example of another wall box installation tool.

FIG. 3B is a rear view of the example wall box installation tool shownin FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is an exploded view of the example wall box installation toolshown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3D is a side view of the example wall box installation tool shownin FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3E is a front view of the example wall box installation tool ofFIG. 3A.

FIG. 3F is a rear view of the example wall box installation tool of FIG.3A.

FIGS. 3G and 3H are front views of the example wall box installationtool of FIG. 3A showing example template card details.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A-1G depict an example wall box installation tool 100. Theexample wall box installation tool 100 may allow for alignment andspacing of multiple adjacent wall boxes. The example wall boxinstallation tool 100 may allow for the installation of non-standardwall boxes as well as locating and aligning multiple adjacent wallboxes. For example, the example wall box installation tool 100 may beused as a template for a desired wall box configuration and/orelectrical device configuration. An electrical device configuration mayinclude one or more standard and/or non-standard electrical devicesinstalled in a single gang wall box, a multi-gang wall box, and/ormultiple wall boxes. The example wall box installation tool 100 mayallow for mounting of adjacent wall boxes for standard electricaldevices, such as switches and receptacles, and non-standard electricaldevices, such as a keypad of a load control system. The example wall boxinstallation tool 100 may be used as a template to mark and/or drill oneor more pilot holes for the installation of one or more wall boxes inwhich standard and/or non-standard electrical devices are to beinstalled. Example of non-standard electrical devices (such as keypads)are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0307714, published Oct. 20, 2016,entitled CONTROL DEVICES HAVING INDEPENDENTLY SUSPENDED BUTTONS FORCONTROLLED ACTUATION, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

As shown, the example wall box installation tool 100 may include atemplate body 110, a first template card 120, and a second template card130. The template body 110 may define a front surface 112, a rearsurface 142, and a rim 114. The front surface 112 may have a rectangularshape. The rim 114 may extend at a perimeter of and substantiallyperpendicular to the front surface 112. The template body 110 mayinclude a guide ring 117 that extends from the rear surface 142 of thetemplate body 110. The guide ring 117 may extend a distance D9 beyond abottom edge 148 of the rim 114 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1C). The guidering 117 may be sized to correspond to a standard wall box size and/or astandard hole saw. For example, the guide ring 117 may have an outerdiameter of 67 mm or 68 mm. Although the guide ring 117 is depicted ashaving a circular shape, the guide ring 117 may be square-shaped orrectangular-shaped.

The front surface 112 may define an opening 116. The opening 116 may bealigned with the guide ring 117 such that the opening 116 defines theinner diameter of the guide ring 117. The front surface 112 may definean orifice 119. The orifice 119 may be configured to receive a level 170(e.g., such as a tubular spirit level). The front surface 112 may defineone or more additional orifices that are configured to accept one ormore additional levels. For example, the front surface 112 may define anorifice to receive an additional level that is oriented perpendicular tothe level 170. The template body 110 may include a plurality of fingers146 that extend from the rear surface 142 of the template body 110 atthe edges of the orifice 119. The fingers 146 may be configured tosecure the level 170 within the orifice 119. The level 170 may besecured within the orifice 119 such that it can be read via the frontsurface 112.

The template body 110 may include protrusions 122, 132 (e.g., bumps ornubs) that extend from the front surface 112 of the template body 110.The first protrusions 122 may be received in respective openings 123 inthe first template card 120, and the second protrusions 132 may bereceived in respective openings 133 in the second template card 130. Theprotrusions 122, 132 may be configured to engage the first template card120 or the second template card 130 to enable a template selection. Theprotrusions 122, 132 may be arranged along a horizontal centerline 158of the guide ring 117. For example, the first template card 120 and thesecond template card 130 may be moved, independent of one another, toenable the template selection. The template selection may be associatedwith a wall box and/or electrical device configuration. The protrusions122 may be configured to hold the first template card 120 in place(e.g., in a selected position) on the front surface 112 of the templatebody 110. The protrusions 132 may be configured to hold the secondtemplate card 130 in place (e.g., in a selected position) on the frontsurface 112 of the template body 110. When the first and second templatecards 120, 130 are moved, the protrusions 122, 132 may exit therespective openings 123, 133, and the template cards may flex slightlyto allow the template cards to move over the protrusions until theprotrusions are received in another pair of the openings.

The template body 110 may also include a plurality of triangular wedges124, 134 that extend from the front surface 112 of the template body110. The first template card 120 may include a plurality of notches 125on each side of the first template card, and the second template card130 may include a plurality of notches 135 on each side of the secondtemplate card. The triangular wedges 124, 134 may be configured to bereceived in the notches 125, 135 in the respective template card 120,130. The triangular wedges 124, 134 may be arranged along the horizontalcenterline 158 of the guide ring 117 (e.g., in line with the protrusions122, 132). The triangular wedges 124, 134 may provide visual cues foraligning the protrusions 122, 132 in the openings 123, 133 of therespective template cards 120, 130 when adjusting the positions of thefirst template card 120 and/or the second template card 130. Thetriangular wedges 124, 134 may be also configured to engage the notches125, 135 of the respective template cards 120, 130 (e.g., to enable thetemplate selection). For example, the triangular wedges 124 may beconfigured to hold the first template card 120 in place (e.g., in theselected position) on the front surface 112 of the template body 110,and the triangular wedges 134 may be configured to hold the secondtemplate card 130 in place (e.g., in the selected position) on the frontsurface 112 of the template body 110.

The template body 110 may include a plurality of stops 126A, 126B, 136A,136B at a top edge 102 and a bottom edge 104 of the template body 110.The stops 126A, 126B may be configured to prevent the first templatecard 120 from sliding beyond the top edge 102 and the bottom edge 104 ofthe template body 110. For example, the stops 126A may be configured toprevent the first template card 120 from sliding beyond the top edge102. The stops 126B may be configured to prevent the first template card120 from sliding beyond the bottom edge 104. The stops 136A, 136B may beconfigured to prevent the second template card 130 from sliding beyondthe top edge 102 and the bottom edge 104 of the template body 110. Forexample, the stops 136A may be configured to prevent the second templatecard 130 from sliding beyond the top edge 102. The stops 136B may beconfigured to prevent the second template card 130 from sliding beyondthe bottom edge 104.

The template body 110 may include a plurality of ribs 144 that extendfrom a rear surface 142 of the template body 110. The ribs 144 may beconfigured to provide structural support for the template body 110. Thetemplate body 110 may include a plurality of hollow pegs 140. Each ofthe ribs 144 may connect with one or more hollow pegs 140, the guidering 117, and/or the rim 114. Each of the hollow pegs 140 may have abore 141 that extends through the front surface 112 of the template body110. The bores 141 may be sized to correspond to a pilot drill bit of a67 mm and/or 68 mm hole saw. For example, each of the bores 141 may havea diameter of 6 mm or 7 mm. The center of each bore 141 may bepositioned on the template body 110 at different distances from theguide ring 117. For example, the bore 141A may be a distance D1 from avertical centerline 156 of the guide ring 117. The bore 141B may be adistance D2 from the vertical centerline 156. The bore 141C may be adistance D3 from the vertical centerline 156. The bore 141D may be adistance D4 from the vertical centerline 156. The bore 141E may be adistance D5 from the vertical centerline 156. The bore 141F may be adistance D6 from the vertical centerline 156. The bore 141G may be adistance D7 from the vertical centerline 156. The bore 141H may be adistance D8 form the vertical centerline 156.

The first template card 120 may be retained by a plurality of clips 118that extend from the front surface 112 of the template body 110. Theclips 118 may be L-shaped and may extend over the first template card120. The clips 118 may be configured such that the first template card120 can be slid along the front surface 112 between the top edge 102 andthe bottom edge 104. Each of the openings 123 may be configured toengage one of the protrusions 122.

The first template card 120 may include a plurality of holes 150, 152,154. The openings 123 that receive the protrusions 122 may be alignedwith one or more of the plurality of holes 150, 152, 154. In addition,the notches 125 on each side of the first template card 120 may bealigned such that a pair of the notches 125 correspond to one or more ofthe plurality of holes 150, 152, 154 when the notches 125 are engagingthe triangular wedges 124. For example, the first template card 120 maybe moved (e.g., slid) from a bottom position 172 when a top pair of theopenings 123 engage the respective protrusions 122 to a top position 178when a bottom pair of the openings 123 engage the respective protrusions122. The first template card 120 may include one or more intermediatepositions 174, 176 between the top position 178 and the bottom position172.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the clips 118, 128 are configured to constrain thefirst template card 120 and the second template card 130 to moving fromthe top edge 102 to the bottom edge 104 (e.g., vertically).Alternatively, the template body 110 may be configured to allow thefirst template card 120 and the second template card 130 to be slidalong the front surface 112 in a direction parallel with the top edge102 and bottom edge 104 (e.g., horizontally).

Each position of the first template card 120 may be associated with anelectrical device configuration. For example, the bottom position 172may be associated with a first configuration 182. The firstconfiguration 182 may be a four-gang control device configuration (e.g.,a four-gang keypad configuration). A first intermediate position 174 maybe associated with a second configuration 184. The second configuration184 may be a single-gang receptacle configuration. A second intermediateposition 176 may be associated with a third configuration 186. The thirdconfiguration 186 may be a quadruple switch gang configuration. The topposition 178 may be associated with a fourth configuration 188. Thefourth configuration 188 may be a triple receptacle gang configuration.

When the first template card 120 is in the bottom position 172, the bore141B may be accessible via the hole 154 of the first template card 120.When the first template card 120 is in the first intermediate position174, none of the bores 141 may be accessible via the first template card120. When the first template card 120 is in the second intermediateposition 176, the bore 141C may be accessible via the hole 152 of thefirst template card 120. When the first template card 120 is in the topposition 178, the bore 141A and the bore 141C may be accessible via theholes 150 of the first template card 120.

The second template card 130 may be retained by a plurality of clips 128that extend from the front surface 112 of the template body 110. Theclips 128 may be L-shaped and may extend over the second template card130. The clips 128 may be configured such that the second template card130 can be slid along the front surface 112 between the top edge 102 andthe bottom edge 104. Each of the openings 133 may be configured toengage one of the protrusions 132.

The second template card 130 may include a plurality of holes 160, 162,164, 166. The openings 133 that receive the protrusions 132 may with oneor more of the plurality of holes 160, 162, 164, 166. For example, apair of top openings 133 may correspond to hole 166. In addition, thenotches 135 on each side of the second template card 130 may be alignedsuch that a pair of the notches 135 correspond to one or more of theplurality of holes 160, 162, 164, 166 when the notches 135 are engagingthe triangular wedges 134. For example, the second template card 130 maybe moved (e.g., slid) from a bottom position 173 when a top pair of theopenings 133 engage the respective protrusions 132, as shown in FIG. 1F,to a top position 179 when a bottom pair of the openings 133 engage therespective protrusions 132. The second template card 130 may include oneor more intermediate positions 175, 177 between the top position 179 andthe bottom position 173.

Each position of the second template card 130 may be associated with anelectrical device configuration. For example, the bottom position 173may be associated with a first configuration 183. The firstconfiguration 183 may be a single switch gang and/or a double switchgang configuration. A first intermediate position 175 may be associatedwith a second configuration 185. The second configuration 185 may be atriple switch gang configuration. A second intermediate position 177 maybe associated with a third configuration 187. The third configuration187 may be a quadruple switch gang configuration. The top position 179may be associated with a fourth configuration 189. The fourthconfiguration 189 may be a double receptacle gang configuration.

When the second template card 130 is in the bottom position 173, bore141E may be accessible via hole 166 of the second template card 130.When the second template card 130 is in the first intermediate position175, bore 141D and bore 141F may be accessible via holes 164 of thesecond template card 130. When the second template card 130 is in thesecond intermediate position 177, bore 141E and bore 141H may beaccessible via holes 162 of the second template card 130. When thesecond template card 130 is in the top position 179, bore 141E and bore141G may be accessible via holes 160 of the second template card 130.

A first hole (e.g., a 67 mm or 68 mm diameter hole) may be drilled in awall (e.g., by an electrical wall box installer) at a desired locationfor one or more wall boxes. The wall box installation tool 100 may beused to drill one or more pilot holes for the installation of one ormore wall boxes in which electrical devices are to be installed. Thewall box installation tool 100 may be installed in the wall. Forexample, the guide ring 117 of the wall box installation tool 100 may beinserted in the first hole drilled in the wall. The rim 114 of the wallbox installation tool 100 may be flush with the wall when the wall boxinstallation tool 100 is installed in the wall. The level 170 may beused to level the wall box installation tool 100. The wall boxinstallation tool 100 may be adjusted to select a wall box configuration(e.g., as shown in FIG. 1G). For example, the first template card 120and the second template card 130 may be moved into position based on theselected wall box configuration and/or electrical device configuration.When the wall box installation tool 100 has been adjusted, one or moreof the bores 141 may be accessible via the front surface 112 of the wallbox installation tool 100. For example, the bottom position 172 of thefirst template card 120 may be used to mark and/or drill a pilot holethrough bore 141B. The wall box installation tool 100 may be removedfrom the wall and a second hole (e.g., a 67 mm or 68 mm diameter hole)may be drilled at the location of the pilot hole. Remaining wallmaterial between the first hole and the second hole may be removed tocreate a wall opening. A wall box may be installed in the wall opening.

As shown in FIG. 1G, the position of the first template card 120 and thesecond template card 130 may correspond to various electrical deviceand/or electrical wall box configurations. For example, configuration Amay correspond to configuration 182 (e.g., which may represent afour-gang keypad installation) when the first template card 120 is inthe bottom position 172. Configuration B+E may correspond toconfiguration 184 (e.g., single-gang receptacle installation) for afirst wall box and configuration 183A (e.g., a single-gang keypadinstallation) or configuration 183B (e.g., a double-gang keypadinstallation) for a second wall box. Configuration B+F may correspond toconfiguration 184 (e.g., a double-gang receptacle installation) for afirst wall box and configuration 185 (e.g., a triple-gang keypadinstallation) for a second wall box. Configuration B+G may correspond toconfiguration 184 for a first wall box and configuration 187 for asecond wall box. Configuration C+H may correspond to configuration 186for a first wall box and configuration 189 for a second wall box.Configuration C+E may correspond to configuration 186 for a first wallbox and configuration 183A or configuration 183B for a second wall box.Configuration C+F may correspond to configuration 186 for a first wallbox and configuration 185 for a second wall box. Configuration C+G maycorrespond to configuration 186 for a first wall box and configuration187 for a second wall box. Configuration D+H may correspond toconfiguration 188 for a first wall box and configuration 189 for asecond wall box. Configuration D+E may correspond to configuration 188for a first wall box and configuration 183A or configuration 183B for asecond wall box. Configuration D+F may correspond to configuration 188for a first wall box and configuration 185 for a second wall box.Configuration D+G may correspond to configuration 188 for a first wallbox and configuration 187 for a second wall box.

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict an example of another wall box installation tool200. The wall box installation tool 200 may define a front surface 212,a rear surface 243, and a rim 214. The front surface 212 may have arectangular shape. The rim 214 may extend at a perimeter of andperpendicular to the front surface 212. The wall box installation tool200 may include a guide ring 217 that extends from the rear surface 243.The guide ring 217 may extend beyond a bottom edge 248 of the rim 214.The front surface 212 may define an opening 216. The opening 216 may bealigned with the guide ring 217 such that the opening 216 defines theinner diameter of the guide ring 217. The front surface 212 of the wallbox installation tool 200 may include a plurality of pilot templateholes 250, 252, 254. The front surface 212 may define a plurality oforifices 219. Each of the orifices 219 may be configured to receive alevel 270 (e.g., such as a tubular spirit level). The wall boxinstallation tool 200 may include a plurality of fingers 246 that extendfrom the rear surface 243 of the wall box installation tool 200 at theedges of the orifices 219. The fingers 246 may be configured to secure alevel 270 within an orifice 219. The levels 270 may be secured withinthe orifices 219 such that they can be read via the front surface 212.

The wall box installation tool 200 may include a plurality of ribs 245that extend from a rear surface 243 of the wall box installation tool200. The ribs 245 may be configured to provide structural support forthe wall box installation tool 200. The wall box installation tool 200may include a plurality of hollow pegs 240, 242, 244. Each of the ribs245 may connect with one or more of the hollow pegs 240, 242, 244, theguide ring 217, and/or the rim 214. Each of the hollow pegs 240, 242,244 may have a bore defined by the pilot template holes 250, 252, 254 onthe front surface 212 of the wall box installation tool 200. Forexample, first pilot template holes 250 may be aligned with first hollowpegs 240; second pilot template holes 252 may be aligned with secondhollow pegs 242; and third pilot template holes 254 may be aligned withthird hollow pegs 244.

A first hole (e.g., a 68 mm diameter hole) may be drilled in a wall(e.g., by an electrical wall box installer) at a desired location forone or more wall boxes. The wall box installation tool 200 may be usedto drill one or more pilot holes for the configuration of electricaldevices that are to be installed in the one or more wall boxes. Forexample, the guide ring 217 of the wall box installation tool 200 may beinserted in the hole drilled in the wall. One of the levels (not shown)in the orifices 219 may be used to select a configuration. For example,a first level may correspond to the first pilot template holes 250 andthe first hollow pegs 240 such that when the first level is level, thefirst pilot template holes 250 and the first hollow pegs 240 arehorizontal. When the first level is level, the bottom edge 202 of thewall box installation tool 200 may not be parallel with the floor. Asecond level may correspond to the second pilot template holes 252 andthe second hollow pegs 242 such that when the second level is level, thesecond pilot template holes 252 and the second hollow pegs 242 arehorizontal. A third level may correspond to the third pilot templateholes 254 and the third hollow pegs 244 such that when the third levelis level, the third pilot template holes 254 and the third hollow pegs244 are horizontal. When the third level is level, the bottom edge 202of the wall box installation tool 200 may not be parallel with thefloor.

When a level is selected to be level, one or more of the holescorresponding to the selected level may be marked and/or drilled basedon an electrical device and/or electrical wall box configuration. Forexample, when the first level is selected, one or more of the firstpilot template holes 250 may be selected to be drilled. The first levelmay be associated with various (e.g., six or more) electrical deviceconfigurations of receptacles and/or switches and the selected holes ofthe first pilot template holes 250 to be drilled may be based on arespective electrical device and/or wall box configuration.

FIGS. 3A-3H depict an example of another wall box installation tool 300.The example wall box installation tool 300 may allow for alignment andspacing of multiple adjacent wall boxes. The example wall boxinstallation tool 300 may allow for the installation of non-standardwall boxes as well as locating and aligning multiple adjacent wallboxes. For example, the example wall box installation tool 300 may beused as a template for a desired wall box configuration and/orelectrical device configuration. An electrical device configuration mayinclude one or more standard and/or non-standard electrical devicesinstalled in a single gang wall box, a multi-gang wall box, and/ormultiple wall boxes. The example wall box installation tool 300 mayallow for mounting of adjacent wall boxes for standard electricaldevices, such as switches and receptacles, and non-standard electricaldevices, such as a keypad of a load control system. The example wall boxinstallation tool 300 may be used as a template to mark and/or drill oneor more pilot holes for the installation of one or more wall boxes inwhich standard and/or non-standard electrical devices are to beinstalled.

The example wall box installation tool 300 may include a template body310 and a template card 320. The template body 310 may define a frontsurface 312, a rear surface 342, and a rim 314. The front surface 312may have a rectangular shape. The rim 314 may extend at a perimeter ofand substantially perpendicular to the front surface 312. The templatebody 310 may include a guide ring 317 that extends from the rear surface342 of the template body 310. The guide ring 317 may extend a distanceD10 beyond a bottom edge 348 of the rim 314 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3D).The guide ring 317 may be sized to correspond to a standard wall boxsize and/or a standard hole saw. For example, the guide ring 317 mayhave an outer diameter of 67 mm or 68 mm. Although the guide ring 317 isdepicted as having a circular shape, the guide ring 317 may besquare-shaped or rectangular-shaped.

The example wall box installation tool 300 may include one or morefasteners 355. The fasteners 355 may be configured to retain thetemplate card 320 on the front surface 312 of the template body 310. Forexample, the template card 320 may define one or more holes 354therethrough. The holes 354 may correspond to bores 323 in the templatebody 310. The holes 354 and the bores 323 may be configured to receivethe fasteners 355. The holes 354 may be slotted, for example, to allowfor tolerances. The holes 354 may be slotted to allow for the fasteners355 to remain installed (e.g., partially installed) within the bores 323before installing the template card 320. For example, the fasteners 355may be aligned with a wider portion of the holes 354 when installing thetemplate card 320 on the template body 310. The template card 320 may beconfigured to slide downward such that a narrow portion of the holes 354surround the fasteners 355. The fasteners 355 may be tightened such thatthe narrow portions of the respective holes 354 engages the fasteners355 when the template card 320 is installed.

The template body 310 may include a plurality of ribs 344 that extendfrom a rear surface 342 of the template body 310. The ribs 344 may beconfigured to provide structural support for the template body 310. Thetemplate body 310 may include a plurality of hollow pegs 340, 322. Eachof the ribs 344 may connect with one or more hollow pegs 340, 322, theguide ring 317, and/or the rim 314. Each of the hollow pegs 340 may havea bore 341 that extends through the front surface 312 of the templatebody 310. The bores 341 may be sized to correspond to a pilot drill bitof a 67 mm and/or 68 mm hole saw. For example, each of the bores 341 mayhave a diameter of 6 mm or 7 mm. Each of the hollow pegs 322 may have abore 323 that extends through the front surface 312 of the template body310.

The template card 320 may define a plurality of holes 350. Each of theholes 350 may be configured such that a corresponding one of the bores341 may be accessible via the hole 350 of the template card 320. Thetemplate card 320 may define a slot 352 configured such that the level370 is visible when the template card 320 is installed on the templatebody 310.

As shown in FIG. 3C, the front surface 312 may define an opening 316.The opening 316 may be aligned with the guide ring 317 such that theopening 316 defines the inner diameter of the guide ring 317. The frontsurface 312 may define an orifice 319. The orifice 319 may be configuredto receive a level 370 (e.g., such as a tubular spirit level). The frontsurface 312 may define one or more additional orifices that areconfigured to accept one or more additional levels. For example, thefront surface 312 may define an orifice to receive an additional levelthat is oriented perpendicular to the level 370. The template body 310may include a plurality of fingers 346 that extend from the rear surface342 of the template body 310 at the edges of the orifice 319. Thefingers 346 may be configured to secure the level 370 within the orifice319. The level 370 may be secured within the orifice 319 such that itcan be read via the front surface 312.

As shown in FIG. 3F, each of the bores 341, 321 (e.g., and respectivehollow pegs 340, 322) may be positioned along a horizontal centerline358 of the guide ring 317. The center of each bore 341, 323 may bepositioned on the template body 310 at different distances from theguide ring 317. For example, the bore 341A may be a distance D11 from avertical centerline 356 of the guide ring 317. The bore 341B may be adistance D12 from the vertical centerline 356. The bore 341C may be adistance D13 from the vertical centerline 356. The bore 341D may be adistance D14 from the vertical centerline 356. The bore 341E may be adistance D15 from the vertical centerline 356. The bore 341F may be adistance D17 from the vertical centerline 356. The bore 341G may be adistance D18 from the vertical centerline 356. The bore 341H may be adistance D19 form the vertical centerline 356. The bore 341I may be adistance D20 from the vertical centerline 356. The bore 323A may be adistance D22 from the vertical centerline 356. The bore 323B may be adistance D16 from the vertical centerline 356. The bore 323C may be adistance D21 from the vertical centerline 356.

The template body 310 may be configured to receive one of a plurality oftemplate cards. Each of the plurality of template cards may beassociated with a respective electrical device configuration. Forexample, the template card 320A, as shown in FIG. 3G, may be associatedwith a first electrical device configuration 382. The first electricaldevice configuration 382 may be a control device having a single columnof buttons (e.g., a single-column keypad) that may be installed next toa multiple-gang receptacle configuration (e.g., a single-gang, adouble-gang, or a triple-gang receptacle configuration). The templatecard 320B may be associated with a second configuration 384. The secondconfiguration 384 may be a control device having four columns of buttons(e.g., a four-column keypad) that may be installed next to amultiple-gang receptacle configuration (e.g., a single-gang, adouble-gang, or a triple-gang receptacle configuration). Other templatecards may be provided for other electrical device configurations, e.g.,single receptacles, double-column keypads, and triple-column keypads.

A subset of the bores 341 may be accessible via the template card 320when one of the template cards is installed on the front surface 312 ofthe template body 310. One or more of the bores 341 may be covered bythe template card 320 such that the one or more bores are inaccessiblevia the template card when the template card is installed on the frontsurface 312 of the template body 310. For example, a first subset of thebores 341 may be accessible via the template card 320A and a secondsubset of the bores 341 may be accessible via the template card 320B. Anumber of the plurality of holes 350 of each template card 320, 320A,320B may be less than a number of the plurality of bores 341 of thetemplate body 310.

A first hole (e.g., a 67 mm or 68 mm diameter hole) may be drilled in awall (e.g., by an electrical wall box installer) at a desired locationfor one or more wall boxes. The template body 310 of the wall boxinstallation tool 300 may be used to drill one or more pilot holes forthe installation of one or more wall boxes in which electrical devicesare to be installed. The template body 310 may be installed in the wall.For example, the guide ring 317 of the template body 310 may be insertedin the first hole drilled in the wall. The rim 314 of the template body310 may be flush with the wall when the template body 310 is installedin the wall. The level 370 may be used to level the template body 310.The wall box installation tool 300 may be adjusted to select a wall boxconfiguration (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 3G and 3H). For example, one of aplurality of template cards 320 may be installed on the template body310 based on a selected wall box configuration and/or electrical deviceconfiguration. The template cards 320A, 320B may be used to mark and/ordrill a plurality of pilot holes through the bores 341, as shown in FIG.3C. The wall box installation tool 300 may be removed from the wall andadditional holes (e.g., a 67 mm or 68 mm diameter holes) may be drilledat the location of the pilot holes. Remaining wall material between oneor more of the pilot holes may be removed to create a wall opening. Oneor more wall boxes may be installed in the wall opening.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wallbox installation tool, comprising: arigid, open backed, template body having a planar front surface at leastpartially surrounded by a rearward-extending peripheral wall having afirst projection distance from the front surface that defines the openback, the template including: at least one reference aperture having arearward extending peripheral wall having a second projection distancefrom the front surface greater than the first projection distance; aplurality of drill guide apertures extending through the front surface,each of the plurality of drill guide apertures including a peripheralwall having the first projection distance from the front surface; aplurality of attachment features disposed on the planar front surface ofthe template body, the plurality of attachment features to accept theslidable insertion of a template card member having a plurality ofapertures formed therein such that, upon slidable insertion of thetemplate card into at least one of the plurality of attachment features,the plurality of template card apertures align with at least a portionof the plurality of drill guide apertures.
 2. The wallbox installationtool of claim 1: wherein the at least one reference aperture comprises acircular aperture having a first diameter; and wherein each of theplurality of drill guide apertures comprise a circular aperture having asecond diameter smaller than the first diameter.
 3. The wallboxinstallation tool of claim 1, further comprising: a first plurality ofreinforcing ribs extending radially outward from the peripheral wall ofthe at least one reference aperture, each of the first plurality ofreinforcing ribs having a third projection distance from the frontsurface, the third projection distance equal to or less than the firstprojection distance.
 4. The wallbox installation tool of claim 1,further comprising: a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending radiallyoutward from the peripheral wall of one or more of the plurality ofdrill guide apertures, each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs havinga third projection distance from the front surface, the third projectiondistance less than the first projection distance.
 5. The wallboxinsertion tool of claim 1, further comprising: one or more engagementfeatures disposed on the front surface of the template, the one or moreengagement features to engage a complimentary engagement feature formedin a template card member such that, upon slidable insertion of thetemplate card into at least one of the plurality of attachment features,the front surface engagement feature engages the template card memberengagement feature thereby fixing the template card member in the atleast one of the plurality of attachment features.
 6. The wallboxinsertion tool of claim 5 wherein the one or more engagement featuresdisposed on the front surface of the template body comprise a pluralityof triangular wedges formed on the front surface of the template body.7. The wallbox insertion tool of claim 1 wherein the plurality of drillguide apertures are disposed asymmetrically about the at least onereference feature.
 8. The wallbox insertion tool of claim 1, furthercomprising: a leveling device aperture formed in the front surface ofthe template body, the leveling device aperture to accommodate theinsertion of a levelling device in the template body.
 9. The wallbox ofclaim 8 wherein the leveling device comprises a cylindrical spirit leveldevice.
 10. The wallbox of claim 8 wherein the leveling device aperturecomprises a leveling device aperture positioned such that when thelevelling device disposed within the aperture indicates level, at leasta portion of the plurality of drill guide apertures are disposed in adefined location with respect to the at least one reference aperture.11. The wallbox insertion tool of claim 1, further comprising: a secondplurality of attachment features disposed on the planar front surface ofthe template body, the second plurality of attachment features to acceptthe slidable insertion of a second template card member having aplurality of apertures formed therein such that, upon slidable insertionof the second template card into at least one of the second plurality ofattachment features, the plurality of template card apertures align withat least a portion of the plurality of drill guide apertures.